GAO's Views on DOE's 1991 Budget for Addressing Problems at the Nuclear Weapons Complex

GAO discussed the Department of Energy's (DOE) 1991 budget request relating to cleaning up and modernizing its nuclear weapons complex. GAO noted that: (1) to more effectively deal with its problems, DOE restructured its programmatic and safety organizations, issued a 5-year plan for environmental restoration and waste management, and undertook efforts to make contractors more accountable for environmental and safety matters; (2) Congress mandated the establishment of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to help ensure the safe operation of DOE facilities; (3) although the full scope of DOE environmental problems was still unknown, estimates indicated that cleanup could cost up to $155 billion; (4) unresolved problems included the shut-down of several key facilities, delayed opening of a waste repository, reactor and facility operational safety, facility deterioration, and groundwater and soil contamination; (5) DOE requested $8.6 billion for its weapons complex, including $1.9 billion for modernization and safety upgrades; (6) DOE also requested $2.8 billion for environmental restoration and waste management for 1991; (7) DOE projected that funding for environmental restoration would continue to increase over the next 5 fiscal years; (8) DOE planned to perform some modernization efforts during 1991 without the benefit of an overall approved strategic plan; and (9) DOE identified several material weaknesses that could affect its ability to rebuild and clean up the nuclear weapons complex.